Mapping innovation dynamics in the Internet of Things domain: Evidence from patent analysis

The Internet of Things ({IoT}) is an emerging paradigm in the {ICT} sector and it is at the center of many current political and economic debates. Scholars, executives, and policymakers are becoming increasingly interested in understanding how to turn the {IoT} into reality, since various technological constraints (e.g., standardization and interoperability) limit the possibility of realizing an inclusive {IoT} information network. These constraints are exacerbated by the lack of a clear picture of the innovation dynamics and technology evolution of the {IoT}. This paper seeks to address this gap by mapping the development of {IoT} technologies. In particular, we have collected 61,972 {IoT} patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in the period 2000–2012. We analyze temporal trends, cross-country dynamics and identity of the applicants. Moreover, we provide insights about the development of the most relevant {IoT} technologies by looking at triadic patent families.